The effect of group exercise on postmenopausal osteoporosis and osteopenia

Abstract

Objectives: We investigated the effects of group exercise on bone mineral density (BMD), pain, and quality of life in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and osteopenia.
Methods: The study included 16 osteoporotic (mean age 55.2 years) and 17 osteopenic (mean age 55.4 years) postmenopausal women whose diagnoses were made by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) showing T-scores of less than -2.5 and in a range of -1 to -2.5, respectively. Subjects having orthopedic, neurological, respiratory, vascular, metabolic, or mental problems were excluded. Each group received the same group exercise program for one hour three times a week for 21 weeks, supervised by a physiotherapist, and including breathing, warm-up, stretching, strengthening, balance, stabilization, and cooling exercises. All participants were evaluated before and after the exercise program by a visual analog scale for pain severity, by DEXA for BMD, and by QUALEFFO-41 (Quality of Life Questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis) for quality of life.
Results: The two groups were similar with respect to age, height, and body mass index (p>0.05), but osteopenic women had a higher body weight (p